2025 Olympic Esports Games Will Be Held In Saudi Arabia

As a long-time fan of esports and gaming culture, I am absolutely thrilled to hear that the Olympic Esports Games are coming to the Middle East in 2025! The prospect of seeing my favorite games like League of Legends, Street Fighter, and Rocket League featured at such a prestigious event is beyond exciting.


In a groundbreaking development, the International Olympic Committee has inked a deal with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, paving the way for the inaugural Olympic Esports Games in the Middle East in 2025. This marks the beginning of a 12-year partnership between the two parties. However, the specifics regarding the location and date of the 2025 event are still under wraps.

According to IGN’s latest update, L’Equipe, a French newspaper, reveals potential collaborations between the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and gaming companies such as Capcom, Riot Games, and Epic Games for the 2025 Olympic Esports Games. If these partnerships materialize, games like Street Fighter 6, League of Legends, and Rocket League could feature in the event. Saudi Arabia is a significant backer of video game businesses, with investments in firms like Embracer, Electronic Arts (EA), Take-Two Interactive, and Activision Blizzard. Moreover, Saudi Arabia holds an 8% stake in Nintendo, making it the biggest non-Japanese investor in the gaming giant.

“Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Faisal, speaking on behalf of our vibrant nation with over 23 million gamers, expressed our eagerness to shape the future through innovative ideas and collaborations. Backed by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, our Kingdom has emerged as a leading destination for competitive esports. The staging of this tournament is a testament to our heritage, current excitement, and bright prospects for the industry in our land. This represents a logical progression for our young athletes, our nation, and the international esports scene.”

As an avid follower of esports, I’m intrigued by Saudi Arabia’s recent move to host events as part of their outreach in the gaming community. However, it’s important for me to acknowledge the country’s troubling past regarding human rights violations against women and LGBT individuals. Prince Mohammed bin Salman has been implicated in the 2018 death and dismemberment of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, adding to these concerns. Yet, with major organizations like the IOC and WWE continuing to accept Saudi Arabia’s financial support for holding events within their borders, it seems that the kingdom is successfully working towards rebranding itself in a more positive light.

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2024-07-15 17:09